University of Mount Union
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan states, "As future campus plans are laid, Mount Union's commitment to serving as a leader in the higher education sustainability movement will not diminish. Guided by a progressive and challening Sustainability Plan, we will continue to build with LEED standards as the norm while providing education and awareness on sustainability practices; incorporating "green" principles into our operations, administration and financial structure; and carrying out the definitive actions of the accompanying Climate Action Plan.

The Strategic Plan addresses this in three different ways, one pertaining specifically to alumni, one to faculty and staff, and one to students under the broader category of diversity. Regarding alumni, the Plan states, "Vital to the success of any institution or fund-raising campaign is the support and generosity of engaged alumni, and we are privilged to have a strong core of dedicated and involved graduates among our 13,000 degree holders living across the nation and throughout the world. Eliciting their increased participation in relevant alumni programming and enhancing communcation to foster their connection to the institution will allow us to further strengthen ties with this ever-important group. To leverage alumni commitment, Mount Union will create unique and inventive opportunities for support in the areas of career development and new student recruitment." Regarding faculty and staff, the Plan states, "Creating and maintaining Mount Union's physical campus-beautiful, dynamic and dignified-is no small feat. Yet, the university is so much more than bricks and mortar. Our distinguishing characteristic is our people, and the dedicated members of our faculty and staff are our most critical assets for continued growth and success. The ability to recruit and retain the finest community members is paramount. Therefore, Mount Union will develop and implement a competitive salary and benefits plan that will recognize outstanding achievement." Regarding students, the Plan states, "Our students' abilities to thrive in the global nature of our 21st century world will be dependent on our power as an institution to expose them to diverse cultures, ideas and opportunities. In essence, we must evolve as a uniquely-diverse and culturally-supportive community to ensure the enrichment of the educational experience, promotion of personal growth and encouragement of critical thinking. At Mount Union, diversity is broadly cocneptualized to include international and national differences as well as group distinctions (ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, ability and political and religious affiliations) and individual characteristics (learning styles and personalities). Such diversity and inclusion ultimately foster an educational climate characterized by variety of thought and evoke poignant discussions that highlight an array of viewpoints, assumptions, values and perceptions. In sum, diversity is an essential component of academic excellence that leads to a richer understanding of the issues that shape our world and an intrinsic appreciation of the value of all people."

The Plan states, "As we plan for the future, we will continue to respect our historical tradition of living within our means and balancing our operational budget. Since the mid-1950s, Mount Union has budgeted and operated conservatively while advancing the institution's efforts to grow and change as necessary. As we develop and implement our strategic and campus master plans, we ill incorporate a felxible strategy that allows us to function within a range of financial environments, whether good or bad. We will develop short-term and long-term planning models that evaluate new and existing programs and commit to optimal resource utilization and effective cost management, all to ensure our fiscal responsibility and balance our operating budget in the years to come.